Posted on 11/19/2016 9:11:38 AM PST by Salvation
One of the things that I have learned about myself, and humans in general, is that our strengths are very closely related to our struggles. Some people are very passionate; this makes them dedicated and driven to make a difference. But it also makes them prone to anger or depression. Their passion in one area (e.g., truth, justice) can cause difficulties with passions in other areas such as sexuality, food, or drink. Passionate people can inspire others and are often great leaders. But they also run the risk of crashing and burning, whether emotionally or morally.
At the other end of the spectrum, consider those who are very relaxed and steady emotionally. They are thoughtful, thinking and acting deliberately. They are calm under pressure, not easily excited. They make good diplomats; they are the sort to bring conflicting parties together. But such people may often struggle to maintain integrity. Sometimes they make too many compromises and forget that there are things that are worth being angry about, worth fighting for. If a person never gets worked up, it could be because he doesn’t care enough about important issues. There’s a saying that the opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference.
This is part of what makes human beings complex and fascinating. There is a certain tipping point at which a virtue becomes a vice either by excess or defect. St. Thomas Aquinas said, In medio stat virtus (Virtue stands in the middle).
And thus in our example here of the passion of anger, the virtue to be sought is meekness. Aristotle defined meekness as the proper middle ground between too much anger and not enough.
The unusual commercial below shows an example of underwhelming joy. It is humorously portrayed in a perfectly deadpan way. But like anger, joy indicates a zeal for what is good, true, and beautiful (even if the subject is just shoes). It is certainly a virtue to be emotionally balanced, avoiding silliness and frivolity. But the strength of a stable and balanced personality can too easily become indifference about things that are important and should bring joy.
Think of someone you love. I’ll bet the thing you like most about him or her is often the very thing that frustrates you the most. Now think about yourself. What are your strengths? Are they not in fact closely related to the areas in which you struggle the most?
Enjoy this humorous commercial. In his subdued joy, is he exhibiting admirable control or is his heart dull? Is this virtue (balance) or is it a defect?
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Article is good. I’m not so sure about the dead-pan video. Often I don’t post these commercials, but I liked the article’s message.
It’s true for me.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying on the video. Anybody want to give us ipsissimi verbi?
I needed to see that. I just sent a rather scorching message to my niece and godchild who is letting her 8 year old daughter trash Trump, thinks its funny, and posts it on Facebook. Of that generation, only my oldest child is pro-trump. The rest are: liberal trial lawyer, global warming wacko lobbyist, actor, musician, party girl, and maybe a libertarian who might have voted for Trump but I had to unfriend him for attacking my daughter months ago. Hmm. I think I’ll go look at his Facebook wall. He has no security up.
Some are excited about the shoe sale at FootLocker. The last person deadpans his enthusiasm. Or is it indifference?
“consider those who are very relaxed and steady emotionally. ... But such people may often struggle to maintain integrity. Sometimes they make too many compromises and forget that there are things that are worth being angry about, worth fighting for. If a person never gets worked up, it could be because he doesn’t care enough about important issues.”
Msgr. knows not of what he speaks, and would do well to not impugn those of differing temperament.
I’m among the calmest people you’ll ever meet. Just because I’m calm doesn’t mean I don’t care, it means I view issues as something to be solved - being worked up & angry just wastes time & energy & opportunity. On top of that, most issues pale in comparison to being dead - and having been there / done that, I don’t find most issues worth getting worked up about.
If a person never gets worked up, it could be because he doesn’t see the point of getting worked up - there’s important issues to address.
Nothing annoys me more than someone getting angry & worked up & fighting instead of actually _solving_ the problem.
“May often” = “YMMV”
And he may be talking about his own temperament there.
Problem is the rhetorical device of using the disclaimer “some” and then spending all available time applying the implication “all”.
I do get the accusation of not caring when I’m simply being calm & pragmatic in solving the issue. Just because I’m not freaking out doesn’t mean I don’t care; I’m usually doing more about it.
I know what you mean.
Some people have just learned what mountains to die on.
That’s wisdom.
There’s no point in going into a tailspin when there’s simply nothing that can be done about a situation at the moment.
But you are right. No point in freaking out and not thinking clearly. It solves nothing.
Interesting points here.
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